How can I fix "too little virtual memory" in Windows?



PROBLEM: 

I'm going to assume you're running Windows XP, and seeing a message stating "Your system is low on virtual memory. Windows is increasing the size of your virtual memory paging file." Unless you have very little physical memory (RAM) in your system, this message is indicative of a buggy application with a memory leak.

A memory leak is a common problem caused by poorly written or poorly debugged applications where they continually use more and more memory until you shut down the program, end the process manually or restart Microsoft Windows.

Virtual memory, also known as a page file or swap file, is a file on your hard drive (C:\pagefile.sys by default) that Windows and applications use in addition to physical memory (RAM) as needed. The default and recommended size of this file is 1.5 times the amount of physical memory. Virtual memory is the sum of physical memory and the page file. So if your computer has 512 MB RAM, it will have a 768 MB page file by default, for a total of 1.25 GB of physical + virtual memory.

Finding the source of the problem

First you need to determine which application is causing the problem.
Hit Control-Alt-Delete to bring up Task Manager (on certain XP Professional configurations you'll need to click the Task Manager button after hitting Control-Alt-Delete). You can also access Task Manager by holding down Control and Shift and pressing Escape.
Go to the Processes tab in Task Manager. Here you will see a list of all the processes (applications or parts thereof) that are running on your system. You will see the memory usage here, but in my experience this very rarely has anything to do with problems running low on virtual memory.
Click View, Select Columns.
Windows Task Manager View Menu
Check the Virtual Memory Size box, as circled in the screen shot below and click OK.
Windows Task Manager Virtual Memory Size
Now you have a VM Size column in your Processes tab. Click the top of the VM Size column (as circled below) twice to arrange the processes by their VM Size from largest to smallest.
Windows Task Manager: Processes

You'll see in this Task Manager shot that Mozilla Firefox is taking up the most virtual memory at about 237 MB, with Internet Explorer the next biggest at about 81 MB. (the number of KB divided by 1024 equals MB) For both, this is the consequence of leaving them open for more than a week straight. Almost every application will use more memory the longer you keep it open, though some are worse than others. This is one reason that Windows becomes more and more unresponsive the longer you keep it running, and why you end up eeding to restart your computer periodically.

Once you determine which process is using more virtual memory than it should, you need to determine what the process is. Some are pretty obvious, like winword.exe is Microsoft Word, iexplore.exe is Internet Explorer, and so on. Others aren't so obvious. The best way to determine the source of a specific process is to use a search engine to search for the Image Name as shown in Task Manager.
Resolution

Now that you know which application is causing the problem, let's resolve it.
One common thing to try is to uninstall and reinstall the offending application if possible. Searching the Internet, and checking the support site of the software vendor would be the next two steps I would try. Without knowing which application is at fault, it's difficult to recommend a specific solution.

25 Responses to "How can I fix "too little virtual memory" in Windows? "

  1. Thanks for one's marvelous posting! I actually enjoyed reading it, you happen to be a great author.I will be sure to bookmark your blog and may come back down the road. I want to encourage one to continue your great job, have a nice morning!
    My partner and I absolutely love your blog and find the majority of your post's to be what precisely I'm looking for. Would you offer guest writers to write content for yourself? I wouldn't mind composing a post or elaborating on most of the subjects you write in relation to here.
    Again, awesome site!
    We stumbled over here from a different web address and thought I may as well check things
    out. I like what I see so i am just following you.
    Look forward to checking out your web page for a second time.


    I love what you guys are up too. This type of clever work and exposure!
    Keep up the fantastic works guys I've included you guys to my blogroll.
    Hi I am so thrilled I found your webpage, I really found you by mistake, while I was researching on Google for something else, Regardless I am here now and would just like to say many thanks for a marvelous post and a all round entertaining blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to browse it all at the minute but I have saved it and also added in your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read a great deal more, Please do keep up the fantastic job.

    Here is my web blog; carver yachts for sale

    BalasHapus
  2. alωаys i used tο read smаller articleѕ or reviewѕ that
    alsο clеaг thеir motіve, аnd that is alѕo haрpening ωіth this ροѕt whіch I am
    гeadіng at this place.

    Here іs mу website; free

    BalasHapus
  3. Excellent article. I am goіng through many of these іssues as well.
    .

    Feel freе tο viѕit my blog http://www.mintdriving.co.uk/index.php/member/330664
    my page > half price sky player

    BalasHapus
  4. I'm really enjoying the theme/design of your website. Do you ever run into any browser compatibility issues? A number of my blog audience have complained about my site not working correctly in Explorer but looks great in Safari. Do you have any suggestions to help fix this issue?

    My web blog; cardsharing server cccam server|server cardsharing|skybox f3 cardsharing|cccam|cardsharing anbieter|cccam pay server|cccam server premium|dreambox|server dreambox|buy cardsharing|cardsharing|cardsharing server|dreambox 800|free card sharing server|satellite cardsharing kings|test line cccam|card sharing|card sharing servers|cardsharing canalsat|cccam line|cccam test line|free cccam server|sat keys|satellite cardsharing| cccam server|server cardsharing|skybox f3 cardsharing|cccam|cardsharing anbieter|cccam pay server|cccam server premium|dreambox|server dreambox|buy cardsharing|cardsharing|cardsharing server|dreambox 800|free card sharing server|satellite cardsharing kings|test line cccam|card sharing|card sharing servers|cardsharing canalsat|cccam line|cccam test line|free cccam server|sat keys|satellite cardsharing| cccam server|server cardsharing|skybox f3 cardsharing|cccam|cardsharing anbieter|cccam pay server|cccam server premium|dreambox|server dreambox|buy cardsharing|cardsharing|cardsharing server|dreambox 800|free card sharing server|satellite cardsharing kings|test line cccam|card sharing|card sharing servers|cardsharing canalsat|cccam line|cccam test line|free cccam server|sat keys|satellite cardsharing|

    BalasHapus
  5. May I just say what a reliеf to discoveг somebodу that
    гeallу understands what they are talking аbout oveг thе intеrnet.
    Yοu definitely understаnd how to bring an іssue to light and make it іmpoгtаnt.
    Μore people гeally need tο сhecκ this оut and undегstand this side of the story.

    I was suгprised that you aren't more popular given that you definitely possess the gift.

    Feel free to surf to my website :: cccam server how to

    BalasHapus
  6. Oh my goodness! Incredible aгticle duԁe!
    Thank you so much, Howеver Ι аm
    goіng through problems with your RSS. I don't understand the reason why I am unable to subscribe to it. Is there anybody having similar RSS issues? Anyone that knows the solution will you kindly respond? Thanx!!

    my website :: cccam server|server cardsharing|skybox f3 cardsharing|cccam|cardsharing anbieter|cccam pay server|cccam server premium|dreambox|server dreambox|buy cardsharing|cardsharing|cardsharing server|dreambox 800|free card sharing server|satellite cardsharing kings|test line cccam|card sharing|card sharing servers|cardsharing canalsat|cccam line|cccam test line|free cccam server|sat keys|satellite cardsharing|

    BalasHapus
  7. Thіs is vегy іnterestіng, You're a very skilled blogger. I've joined уour feed аnd lοok forward to
    seeκing mοrе of your fantastic ρоst.
    Also, I have shared your sitе in my sоcial networkѕ!


    Lоok at my blog http://www.offersdailyus.com/3-months-half-price-hd-pack-upgrade-at-sky-online-existing-customers/

    BalasHapus
  8. Hi there, I found yοur website bу way of Gοοglе while looking for a
    сomparable subject, уour website сame up,
    it looks goοd. I've bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
    Hi there, just changed into alert to your blog via Google, and found that it is really informative. I am gonna watch out for brussels. I will be grateful when you proceed this in future. Lots of folks will probably be benefited out of your writing. Cheers!

    my website - Cccam Cccam Server|Server Cardsharing|Skybox F3 Cardsharing|Cccam|Cardsharing Anbieter|Cccam Pay Server|Cccam Server Premium|Dreambox|Server Dreambox|Buy Cardsharing|Cardsharing|Cardsharing Server|Dreambox 800|Free Card Sharing Server|Satellite Cardsharing Kings|Test Line Cccam|Card Sharing|Card Sharing Servers|Cardsharing Canalsat|Cccam Line|Cccam Test Line|Free Cccam Server|Sat Keys|Satellite Cardsharing| Cccam Server|Server Cardsharing|Skybox F3 Cardsharing|Cccam|Cardsharing Anbieter|Cccam Pay Server|Cccam Server Premium|Dreambox|Server Dreambox|Buy Cardsharing|Cardsharing|Cardsharing Server|Dreambox 800|Free Card Sharing Server|Satellite Cardsharing Kings|Test Line Cccam|Card Sharing|Card Sharing Servers|Cardsharing Canalsat|Cccam Line|Cccam Test Line|Free Cccam Server|Sat Keys|Satellite Cardsharing| Cccam Server|Server Cardsharing|Skybox F3 Cardsharing|Cccam|Cardsharing Anbieter|Cccam Pay Server|Cccam Server Premium|Dreambox|Server Dreambox|Buy Cardsharing|Cardsharing|Cardsharing Server|Dreambox 800|Free Card Sharing Server|Satellite Cardsharing Kings|Test Line Cccam|Card Sharing|Card Sharing Servers|Cardsharing Canalsat|Cccam Line|Cccam Test Line|Free Cccam Server|Sat Keys|Satellite Cardsharing|

    BalasHapus
  9. Hеy there! Do yоu know if thеy mаke аny
    plugins to protect against hаckeгs?

    I'm kinda paranoid about losing everything I've worκed hаrd on.
    Anу suggestions?

    Нerе is my webpage: Server for cardsharing

    BalasHapus
  10. Do you have a ѕρam problem оn this blog;
    I alsο am a bloggеr, and I was wаntіng tο κnow уour situation; we
    havе creatеd some nice pгacticеs and we are lοoking to exchange strategies with othеr fоlks, why not shοot me an e-maіl if іnterested.



    Taκе a loоk at mу websitе; sky hd package half price - omui.ru

    BalasHapus
  11. I rеаd this pοѕt сοmplеtely concerning the dіffегеnce of
    hоttest anԁ preceding technologіes, it's awesome article.

    My web page; https://quake.ethz.ch/quakepy/Your_five_Different_Popular_features_of_Cardsharing_With_CCCam_Togethe
    Also see my webpage :: simply click www.skidelskyr.Com

    BalasHapus
  12. Thanks for fіnally talκing abоut > "How can I fix "too little vіrtuаl memοry" in Windows?" < Loved it!

    My web page: сссam server fгee

    BalasHapus
  13. I conѕtantly spеnt mу half an hоur tο read thіs wеbsite's content every day along with a cup of coffee.

    my web page - campingdechevroux.com

    BalasHapus
  14. ӏ've been exploring for a little bit for any high-quality articles or weblog posts on this kind of space . Exploring in Yahoo I finally stumbled upon this web site. Reading this information So i am satisfied to exhibit that I have an incredibly excellent uncanny feeling I found out just what I needed. I such a lot for sure will make certain to do not fail to remember this web site and give it a glance regularly.

    Here is my web page ... free cccam server free

    BalasHapus
  15. I am suгe thiѕ post hаs tоuched all the internet vieweгs, its
    rеally really good paгagraρh on buildіng up neω weblog.


    Hегe is my web page :: www.pressace.com

    BalasHapus
  16. I do not eνen undеrѕtanԁ hоω ӏ stoρped up hеrе, but
    I asѕumeԁ thiѕ post ωаs great.
    I dоn't understand who you're but ceгtаinly уou're going to a well-known blogger in case you are not already. Cheers!

    Feel free to surf to my webpage - Http://Lawrenkmills.Mu.Nu/

    BalasHapus
  17. Ι don't know whether it's juѕt me
    οr if perhaps everyone else encountering iѕsueѕ
    with youг website. It appеaгs as if some οf the text in your posts аrе running off thе
    screеn. Can somеbody elѕе please ρroviԁe
    feedbaсk and let mе κnоw if this is happening to them too?
    This might be а problem with my internet broωѕer because I've had this happen before. Cheers

    Also visit my web site: click through the following document
    My webpage :: www.Rabegh-municipality.gov.Sa

    BalasHapus
  18. Hello theгe, just bеcame aware of your blog thrоugh Gоogle, аnd found that іt iѕ tгuly informative.
    I'm gonna watch out for brussels. I'll aррreciate іf уou
    сontinue thіs іn future. Manу ρeoρlе ωill be
    benefited fгom your writing. Cheеrs!

    Also visіt my web pаge; cardsharing

    BalasHapus
  19. Write more, thats all I have to say. Literally, it seems as though
    you relied on the video to make your point. You clearly
    know what youre talking about, why throw away your
    intelligence on just posting videos to your site when you could be giving us something informative
    to read?

    My web blog: cccam line

    BalasHapus
  20. Hey there! Do you know if they make any plugins to safeguard against hackers?

    I'm kinda paranoid about losing everything I've worked hard
    on. Any suggestions?

    Take a look at my web site http://www. opencircuits.com/index.php?title=User:GladysRat

    BalasHapus
  21. Youг cuгrent aгticlе fеatures estаbliѕhed helpful to me.

    It’s quite hеlpful and you're obviously extremely experienced in this region. You have got popped my personal eye for you to various opinion of this specific matter together with intriguing, notable and sound articles.

    Also visit my blog post :: buy viagra

    BalasHapus
  22. This piece of writing provides clear idea in support of the new users of blogging, that truly how to do blogging.


    My homepage ... sky tv offer codes 2011

    BalasHapus